Things are beginning to blossom under the boardwalk. Dark tendrils of deception and evil and perversion are sprouting from the sand. Also, we got to see Jimmy almost get a blowjob, which was pretty fantastic.

Anyway, the second episode of Boardwalk Empire, like the premiere is all about color and the story it tells. Nucky pulls off an incredibly improbable mix of pastels and patterns — salmon with mauve, plaid with paisley, the works — and he looks like positively doesn't give a damn. But he is taking a lot of heat for Jimmy's stick-up, and the fellas up in New York are none too pleased with him. Arnold Rothstein shows some chillingly cold-blooded qualities — matched with a wonderfully villainous bow tie. Really, that thing is huge. It's almost hard to take him and his cue-ball story seriously. Cold-as-ice Agent Van Alden is also hot on Nucky's two-toned spectators, and while investigating the death of Mr. Schroeder, he reveals perhaps the most frightening dark side of all. He contains it all in simple, conservative drabs, but it's clear that this guy is going to be some freak.

Meanwhile, Jimmy spends his ill-gotten gains from that ambush on some belated Christmas presents for his family... and in the process we discover that his mother is a whore (how Draperian!). He does manage to look tremendously fetching throughout, though, in wools of all sorts of mixed dull colors — green, burgundy, and an awesomely dark denim blue. It's clear that the working-class gents on this show are going to give you guys the more feasible takeaways than the rich swells. (Like I said, that bow tie is just enormous.) And Jimmy's outfit and hair (Arcade Fire undercut and all) is basically a look you can pull off today:

The pieces are simple: there is a jacket, a shirt, a wool knit vest, and a tie. The style comes with the shapes, sure, but mostly with the colors. Take a note from Jimmy's book and try getting a little creative with shades in the same family. Staying in the same color temperature is a helpful start — Jimmy's being all dark, for instance — but keep your greys powerful and your dull browns from getting boring. It takes a bit of practice, but mixing and matching your shades will definitely impress your lady friends, because we're pretty hamstrung by the whole process ourselves. Just don't steal Christmas presents back from your hooker mom to cover your debts. We don't like that.